Only available for a limited time...

I've been writing this blog for about five months now.  As far as I know, these are the places I've written up that are now out of business:

Chau's Burgers and Sandwiches
Eddie's Wood Fired Dogs
Giacinto's Italian Gourmet
Kickin Chicken
Manila Bay

And when I last checked the Portuguese Barbecue Lunch Wagon, the place I did my first entry on, was up for sale.  I know that I tend to seek out the path less traveled (figuratively speaking), and the economy still isn't in the best shape, but the moral of the story is simply this: if you hear about a place or a dish you really want to try, whether here or from anyone else, DO IT WHILE YOU HAVE THE CHANCE.  Regret sucks.

Great Harvest Bread Co. (Meridian)

As I mentioned in my review of Great Harvest in Boise, they've changed their approach to sandwiches over the years.  In that regard, the Meridian location is a trip back in time.  If you prefer the sandwiches the way they used to make them, using the big round loaves of bread, or if you never got to try them, you can still get them that way at the Meridian store.  Unfortunately, what it will cost you is also a bit old-fashioned, which in this regard means about $2 higher than the Boise branch's newer, saner prices.  But is it worth it?

Golden Wheel

Golden Wheel is one of those spots that is almost a local institution.  It's been there on Fairview Avenue, just West of Five Mile Road in Boise, for as long as I can remember.  Over the years my family has gone there on many occasions, but believe it or not I've had very little of the food they serve.

Another evil sandwich...

What you see above is the Monte Cristo sandwich from The Cheesecake Factory's Sunday brunch menu.  I know it's something of a culinary staple, but I'd never had one before.  This particular version consists of scrambled egg, grilled ham, bacon and melted Swiss cheese.  Rather than dipping the entire sandwich, French toast is used as the bread.  Then the whole thing is lightly dusted with powdered sugar and served with strawberry preserves.  The end result is much better than it has any right to be, and something that I wish (for health reasons anyway) that I had never been introduced to.

Shaka Shack - (sorta) CLOSED

Update - Shaka Shak has expanded into a full restaurant just a little further down the parking lot where Ono Hawaiian Cafe used to be.  More info at http://www.theshakboise.com/.  The old Shak still stands, but is now a Human Bean coffee stand.

Before we get into this, let me just say that I'm beginning to suspect that I don't really dig Hawaiian food.  Granted, I've only been to two Hawaiian eateries, one located in a Meridian strip mall and the other in a parking lot downtown.  I had good dishes at both, but nothing about the style of the cuisine really spoke to me, if that makes any sense.  That having been said, Shaka Shak was definitely the better of the two.